Arch support



Feb- 12, 1935- c. J. RATEIKE 1,990,956

ARCH SUPPORT Filed Nov. 11, 195s Patented Feb. 12, 1935 UNITED VSTATES PATENT OFFICE ARCH SUPPORT Charlcs'J. .Rateika Chicago, Ill.,` assignor to r .Eugene Sessler, Chicagmlll. Y

Application November 11, wsa-serial No. 697,616

5 claims. (c1. 3671 The present invention relates primarily to the means provided for adjusting the curvature of an arch support of the character employed in shoes for the purpose of supporting the instep of the foot and correcting its position to the extent required in the treatment of weak arches, flat feet, or other abnormal conditions.

The invention in the main comprises an arched metal plate which is covered by a leather cushion, and the present invention is designedr to permit the curvature of the metal plate to beV easilyadjusted within the limits required andvby adjusting means which are permanently combined with the plate itself so that the adjustmentcan be readily effected without need for the use of-tools or appliances.

AFurther objects and details of the invention will appear from the description thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein,-

Figure 1 is an under plan view of the arch plate with the superposed cushion;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the plate adjusted to aiford a slightly higher arch than in the case of Fig. 3.

The arch plate comprises a center body portion l1 which is bifurcated at the forward end to afford separated legs 12 and 13, and the body at the opposite or heel end terminates in a centrally extending head 14 which is oset downwardly at 15 to afford an arcuate shoulder at the point of juncture between the head and the body, and said arcuate shoulder furnishes an abutment for the contact of the rim of an adjusting disk 16 which is pivoted upon a pintle 17 entered through the head 14 near the center thereof. or near the outer rim of the adjusting disk the head is again offset downwardly to afford an outer shoulder 18, beyond which the head is provided with a rivet 19 which serves to unite the head to the heel end of a leather pad 20 which is slightly longer and broader than the metal arch plate so as to overlap the same around all of its edges and thereby protect the foot from direct contact with the metal plate.

The legs l2 and 13 are united to the leather pad 20 by rivets 21 and 22, and the arch plate on the inner or instep side of the foot is bowed upwardly on the side 23 of the body, and the corresponding portion 24 of the pad is likewise lifted to afford lateral support for the side of the instep. In order to slightly weaken the metal in .the center of the body and thus increase the flexi-Y bility, the body is provided with longitudinal slots 25 at this point.

rIhe adjusting disk 16 is provided around a portion (approximately one-third) of its periphery 5 with a downwardly turned cam flange 26 of progressively increasing depth', which abuts against the upper surface of the arch plate at the base of the arcuate shoulder 15, and the adjusting disk on the opposite side is provided witha series `10 ofl downwardly facing depressions 27 which are circularly disposed positionto beengaged by an upwardly extending boss 28 suitably positioned in the head 14 to permit accurate adjustment and centering of the disk 16 when turned to the l5 desired position of adjustment.

In use, the arch support (which in the example illustrated is the support for the left foot) is positioned within the shoe in such a manner as to bring the side elevation 24 beneath the inner por- 20 tion of the instep of the foot, which tends to better elevate the foot and prevents sagging of the arch at this point and to tilt the foot laterally to the extent required to correct a tendency to throw the Weight toward the inside of the foot. 25 The correct elevation for the arch can be obtained by rotating the adjusting disk to the desired degree.

Fig. 3 shows the cam ange 26 near its lowest point of elevation in contact with the base of 30 the inner or forward offsetin the arch plate, and at this position of adjustment the arch will be lowered to practically its lowest curvature. As the cam disk is rotated to bring the higher portions of the cam flange into contact with the plate the adjustment will tend to draw in the ends of the arch, which ends are fastened to the leather cushion by the rivets 19, 21 and 22, and in so adjusting the parts the center of the arch will be correspondingly elevated to afford a higher 40 arch and consequently a greater degree of elevation for the foot. Various intermediate adjustments can be made by the turning of the disk and the temporary locking of the same by engagement of the boss 28 with a selected recess 27, so 45 that by merely adjusting the disk, and without the employment of tools or appliances, a satisfactory and precise adjustment can be made within limits to properly fit the arch support to the foot.

The configuration of the arch plate as a whole is designed to best support the foot of the user, and the leather cushion is preferably thinned down at the edge of the elevation 24 to avoid an abrupt ridge along the side of the foot, the 55 a. ,I y remainder of the cushion being of suii'icient thickness to properly cushion the bottom of the foot and to bridge the gap between the shoulder portion of the plate and the disk, so that the wearer will not be subjected to discomfort by the forma-Y tion of a ridge or hump at this point.

Although the invention has been described in full detail, it is not the intention to limit the invention strictly to the features shown and described, since the details may -be modified without departing from the scope of the invention aside- `fined by the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In alongitudinally extending arch support,

the combination of an arch plate 4having an off-- set surface near its rear end, a cushioncarried by the arch plate to which the endsof the cushion are permanently attached: and a rotatable cam disk carried by the arch plate and having a cam thereon of progressively increasing depth and adaptedby rotation tobear against the offset surface of the arch platev :to vary the curvature thereof and correspondingly vary` the height of the arch.

2. In Van arch support, VVthe combination of an arch plate, a cushion carried thereby to which the Yends of the arch plate are Ypermanently attached,

3. In an arch support, the combination of an arch plate, a cushion carried thereby to which the ends of the arch plate are permanently'at-4 tached, and a rotatable cam disk carried by the arch plate and having a cam thereon of progressively increasing depth and adapted by rotation to'bear against the surface of the arch plate to vary the curvature thereof and correspondingly vary the height ofthe arch, the cam disk being provided with a plurality ofarcuately arranged recesses, and the plate being provided with a boss adapted to register With a selected recess for locking the cam disk in adjusted position.

4. In an arch support, the combination ofan arch plate rigidly secured at its ends to the under side ofa cushion, the arch plate being provided near its heel end Withra downward oiset affording a rearwardly facing arcuate shoulder, a ro-vv tatable cam disk pivoted upon the offset heel portionf ofthe archv plate and having its periphery in contactvwith the base of the arcuate shoulder, and a progressively deepening cam flange formed on the edge of the cam plate and adapted to bear against the arch plate to permit pvariation in the curvature thereof .and corresponding' variation in the height of the arch.

' througha fixed path always in contact with the plate, having a cam device bearing against thev `offset surface of the arch plate at a point remote from the connection between thev arch plate `and said means, the cam device acting to vary the curvature 'of the arch plate and, in consequence,

the height thereof. n

' CHARLES J.V RATEIKE. 

